Clergy

Rector. The Very Reverend Charles C. McCoart, Jr.(or "Chuck" as he prefers) has been rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church (EEC) since June of 2013. He came to Emmanuel after serving for eight years as pastor of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in the Mount Vernon area of Fairfax County, Virginia. Yes, you read that correctly! Chuck was a Roman Catholic for the first 50 years of his life and only recently transitioned into the Episcopal faith, which Chuck says is just a “far better fit” for him personally. Among several other topics — the ordination of women, married clergy, and how divorced and gay individuals are treated in the church was what compelled Chuck to make this transition. Ask him anything you’d like to know about the transition — he says it was one of the most life-affirming decisions of his life ... and his 84-year-old mother said she wishes he had made this transition twenty years ago!

Chuck has been ordained a priest for 27 years and considers himself an encourager of people and a cheer-leader for God. He has a collaborative style of ministry and likes nothing better than to hear how God is at work in another person’s life.

Chuck is a native Northern Virginian who when not at work, spends his time with his large Irish family and life-long friends. Follow Chuck on his blog to find out what he is thinking on a range of topics such as: faith, family and life. Wherever you see Chuck, you’re also most likely to see Max, Chuck’s six month old, 68 pound, gentle German Shepherd who takes Chuck on 50+ miles of walks each week. Join them for a walk - and talk - some day. It’s good for the soul.

Associate for Worship and Spiritual Formation. The Reverend Joani Peacock is very happy to be serving at Emmanuel. She and Chuck share a common heritage. Joani is a native Washingtonian who grew up in a big chaotic Catholic family. She went to Catholic school all the way through college. But the good sisters told her to stop asking nagging questions! Long story short, she found her home in the Episcopal Church. Joani's home parish was Immanuel on the Hill and she graduated from VTS in 1994. Joani has served five parishes in the Diocese of Virginia both as associate and rector. She also was on staff at Bishop Payne Library at Virginia Seminary for seven years and is now a regular volunteer at the Library of Congress. At VTS she has also served as a colloquy mentor and a mental health evangelist. Joani's blog Unorthodox & Unhinged on mental health and spirituality was the inspiration for the Story District production of Mind Over Matter: True Stories about Living with Mental Illness. Joani is passionate about Christian education and works closely with the Adult Spiritual Formation Ministry Team. Joani's primary ministry at Emmanuel is as "parish liturgist" planning Sunday worship and special services in concert with the Rector and Music Director. She also loves to sing (even though Sister Inez Patricia kicked her out of the Glee Club). Once in a blue moon, you might just see her singing with the sopranos.

Joani has four rocking adult children: one in VT, one in NYC, one in DC, and one in NC.

PS. Behind Joani is a discarded window from Emmanuel's renovation over twenty years ago. On her way to VTS on election day 1992, she found it in the church's trash! It has been on her mantel ever since.

Seminarian. Rick Baueris a Senior Seminarian at VTS, working and studying as a Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Theology & Religion at the Catholic University of America. A former touring singer and guitarist, Rick still produces and releases music as a BMI songwriter and a voting member of the Recording Academy. He moved to Northern Virginia for seminary with his wife Katrina and their sons Ricky (5) and Christian (3) from the warm, multi-cultural beach city of Fort Lauderdale in urban South Florida. Before the move, Rick worked as a lay professional for St. Mark’s Episcopal Church & School in Fort Lauderdale as the Religion Instructor & the Director of Youth and Contemporary Music. He also performed four nights per week, playing guitar and singing in a small band with his beloved father, Rick Bauer, who passed away in May of 2017. Katrina served as a public school teacher in Miami-Dade County and is now a busy mom, working remotely as a Supervisor for Connections Education. Rick and Katrina are committed parents who do their very best to help co-create the kind of environment that they want their children to grow up in.

Check out Rick's website for more information about his journey and the music that he has made: www.mrtheinvisible.com

Seminarian. KC Robertson is a second-year seminarian up the hill at Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) and is a postulant from the Diocese of Los Angeles, with the hopes of becoming a parish priest. Yes, she has her moments of missing the Pacific and the street tacos, but KC has been loving her time here in Alexandria. KC received her bachelors in Education from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego and an MA in Digital Teaching and Learning from Azusa Pacific University. Prior to seminary, she worked several years in elementary education, youth ministry, and also spent two years caregiving for family. KC is the proud owner of hearing aids and is also a diehard baseball fan who enjoys traveling, a good coffee, and anything chocolate. As for ministry, she is especially passionate about all things family-oriented, intergenerational, and people who are alternatively-abled. Her hope is to be an encouragement for others to delight in a proactive, joy-filled relationship with our Good God! As Emmanuel’s newest seminarian, she is looking forward to the lessons to be learned and the formation to be developed during her time here at Emmanuel. Philippians 4:4